Police: Son of woman found stuffed in trash can confesses to killing

Published: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 10:21 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 10:21 a.m.

The son of a woman found strangled and beaten to death in a trash can outside of her home has been charged with murder after Gaffney police say he confessed to the crime.

Brandon Scott Knuckles, 44, admitted that he caused the death of 78-year-old Marjorie L. Knuckles after a heated argument, according to a Gaffney Police Department statement.

Knuckles, who remains at the Cherokee County Detention Center, faces other charges including possession of stolen property, financial transaction card theft and financial transaction card fraud.

Police said Brandon Knuckles lived with his mother at her Hetty Hill Street home.

Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said Marjorie Knuckles was probably dead for a few days before her family discovered her body Sunday morning in the roll-out trash container behind a shed in her backyard. She had been reported missing by her family on Saturday night.

Fowler, who ruled Marjorie Knuckles' death a homicide on Sunday, said that an autopsy on Monday found she had been strangled to death. He said it was one of the most "heinous" crimes he's seen.

"In addition to being strangled, Mrs. Knuckles sustained other non-lethal bodily injuries caused by beating," Fowler said in a written statement. "The person responsible for this has no (conscience)."

Police and family couldn't locate Brandon Knuckles or Marjorie Knuckles' 2004 Nissan Maxima during the weekend. On Monday, about 9:30 a.m., officers received information that Brandon Knuckles was at a local motel, according to a written statement. Officers found him at the Homestead Lodge in Gaffney, and the Nissan was in the parking lot of a neighboring hotel.

<p>The son of a woman found strangled and beaten to death in a trash can outside of her home has been charged with murder after Gaffney police say he confessed to the crime.</p><p>Brandon Scott Knuckles, 44, admitted that he caused the death of 78-year-old Marjorie L. Knuckles after a heated argument, according to a Gaffney Police Department statement.</p><p>Knuckles, who remains at the Cherokee County Detention Center, faces other charges including possession of stolen property, financial transaction card theft and financial transaction card fraud.</p><p>Police said Brandon Knuckles lived with his mother at her Hetty Hill Street home.</p><p>Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler said Marjorie Knuckles was probably dead for a few days before her family discovered her body Sunday morning in the roll-out trash container behind a shed in her backyard. She had been reported missing by her family on Saturday night.</p><p>Fowler, who ruled Marjorie Knuckles' death a homicide on Sunday, said that an autopsy on Monday found she had been strangled to death. He said it was one of the most "heinous" crimes he's seen.</p><p>"In addition to being strangled, Mrs. Knuckles sustained other non-lethal bodily injuries caused by beating," Fowler said in a written statement. "The person responsible for this has no (conscience)."</p><p>Police and family couldn't locate Brandon Knuckles or Marjorie Knuckles' 2004 Nissan Maxima during the weekend. On Monday, about 9:30 a.m., officers received information that Brandon Knuckles was at a local motel, according to a written statement. Officers found him at the Homestead Lodge in Gaffney, and the Nissan was in the parking lot of a neighboring hotel.</p>